The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-01-19
LUCKY BALDWINS RANCH.
THE GREAT FARM OF A CALIFoR-
MIA MILLIONAIRE

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Times writing from Los Angeles says of
Lucky Baldwn's rancho: ut is not an
easy matter for people living on the At
lantic slope to takein the idea of ranch
or farm containing so, 600 acres, and COW
ering an area of fourteen miles east and
west by twelve miles north and south.
Such, however, is the size of this Santa
Anita ranch, located twelve miles east of
the city Of Los Angeles, and belonging
to the famous millionaire, E. J. Bald
win, better known by his we'll deserved
sobriquet of Lucky" Baldwin. 1t is
on high ground, which slopes gradually
down from the Sierra Madre Mountains
which tower above it end serve as bar
rier against wind and fogs.
1t was in 1876, just as he had made
successful deal of Ophir mining stock
the last great deal made in the Com
stock-by which he cleared 81. 900, 000
that Mr.. Baldwin purchased the Santa
Anita ranch, It then comprised only
10, 500 acres. Since that time he has
bought the San Fracisquito, La Puente,
La Merced, Patrero Chico, La Cienega and
other tracts or ranches, aggregating 4O,-
600 acres, now included in his Santa
Anita ranch. By January 1, 1881, he
had secured a clear title to this immense
estate, and ever since then he has ex-
pended for Improvements the total in
come of the ranch and an additional sum
of $4,000 per month. He has added
seventy acres to the orange groves, plant
ing them with the Washington or seed
less orange, the choicest aud most ex-
pensive variety known. The old vine
yard has been increased by 500 acres and
planted with the choicest varieties of
wine grapes. There are sixty acres in
English walnuts and almost countless
acres of almonds, figs, peaches, pears,
apples, apricots, pomegranates, and ev-
cry other known variety of fruit. He
sows -, 900 acres of wheat every year,
and has flock of 81, 900 sheep. Take
into consideration the corn, barley and
other grains which are raised for the sup
port of the stock, etc., and you may OBJ
tain faint idea of the enormous amount
and variety of the products of Santa
Anita. There are about $50 men con-
stantly on the pay yroll and, strangest of
all in this part of the country, not over
dozen Cinnamon are included in the
number.
1t is almost impossible to give any sat
isfactorY description of so immense an
estate as Santa Anita. About quarter
of mile from the main road is the ranch
house, pretty Eastlake structure, which
is approached by drive through the
main orange grove. No words of mine
can give any adequate idea of the beauty
of this collection of orange trees. They
are of dark green, with leaf as lus-
trous as that of a magnolia, and in the
acres of them which stretch away on
either side not a blade of grass nor a
weed can be seen. The whole immense
place is cultivated as carefully as Penn
sylvania farmer cultivates his onion beds.
At regular intervals are little boxes sur
mounted by a faucet by means of which
water, indispensable to the life of orange
tees, is turned into the trenches between
them. The house stands on a gentle
knoll, overlooking a large pond filed
with fine carp, and is surrounded by
eucalyptus, weeping willows and many
other varieties of ornamental trees and
shrubs. 1t is finished in fine native
woods, and is provided with speaking
tubes, lavatories, electric bells and every
other convenience of city residence.
Near by is the old house once occupied
by the former proprietor. 1t is an en-
largement of the original adobe ranch
house, and has wide, hospitable-lo king
veranda. In front of the new house is
an old bell taken from one of the ruined
mission churches. 1t was cast in Spain
over 100 years since, and is said to be
largely composed of gold and silver
donated for the purpose by pious Spanish
ladies of high degree.
Mr.. Baldwin's vineyards and wine cell
lar are among the chief objects of inter-
est at Santa Anita The cellar is piled
high with wines, many of them ten years
old. All the latest machinery for distil-
ling and fermenting is to be found here,
and this department is presided over by
a French expert of lifelong experience
in wine and brandy-making in his native
country.
After we have seen the orange groves,
the orchards, vineyards, wine cellars and
other features of what is known as the
home place, we are prepared to extend
our observations to the great wheat and
sheep ranches on the Puente. We may
drive for miles through the fields where
the wheat, like sea of gold, waves to
and fro in the gentle breeze that comes
from the ocean, cooling, refreshing and
health giving after a day of warm sun
shine. Wheat is not liable to rust here
and seldom lodges. The suns seems to
have the same power in bringing the
wheat to perfection that it exerts on the
oranges and semi-tropical fruit.
Lucky Baldwin, the owner of this vast
estate, is as remarkable among men as
Santa Anita is among ranches. In per
son he is inclined to be tall and slender,
and l should judge his age to be about
sixty-fye years. There are few instances
on record of so sudden rise to such
great wealth as his. For years he fought
the battle of life poor, friendless and un-
known, but suddenly the tide of fortune
turned and flowed in upon him so fast
that almost in day he became one of the
wealthiest men in the State, famous for
its great millionaires. Nervous energy
and activity are expressed in his every
word, look and action. He finds rest
only in great enterprises, of which he has
half dozen under full headway, any one
of which would tax the energies of the
average business man to the utmost lie